North Korea updates constitution to mandate automatic nuclear retaliation if Kim Jong Un is killed or incapacitated
North Korea's Supreme People's Assembly approved a constitutional revision in March 2024 requiring automatic nuclear strikes if the leadership is killed or incapacitated by hostile forces. The change was disclosed by South Korea's National Intelligence Service and follows escalating regional tensions after Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was killed in an Israeli strike. The revised provision establishes automatic launch protocols if North Korea's command-and-control system is endangered.
Lightly covered so far
Too few outlets to map a left-right split. Here is each take as it stands.
“North Korea updates constitution to require automatic nuclear strike if Kim Jong Un is assassinated: report”
“North Korean constitution now requires nuclear missile strike if Kim Jong Un is killed or loses power”